NZXT's new Panzerbox case

[Bill Owen]

Looks like a real contender for mid-tower class. It comes with 2, 190mm cooling fans. It also has brackets for mounting optional dual 120mm size radiator. Removable Motherboard tray and welded aluminum chassis. Available in late April, $119.99 us dollars

http://www.casemodblog.com/?p=679

[dave87]

Sorry Bill, Hexus News team beat you to it


http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-net/16...s-airflow.html


Have you got any plans for case mods with it though?

[Pob255]

Sorry Bill, but I for one would love to know your thoughts on it.

Personally I think it's a lovely looking case, very well laid out.
Wonder what the UK price will be?
I would of liked to see a steel version, granted more weight but should be a lower price.

[Bill Owen]

NZXT is sending me one to check out, and mod. So I'll let ya know

After meeting with CustomPCMAX (Nate) last night, hes gonna come over to the shop and install a system in it

[kaelyn]

The case does look good but I'm not warming to the idea of two 190mm fans, sure they are big and might work quite well but there is virtually no possibility of switching them to fans of your own choosing unless mounting holes are supplied for other size fans, however these would inevitably leave a big gap around them.

[Bill Owen]

Heres a video review of the Panzerbox

http://www.casemodblog.com/?p=735

[Pob255]

Thanks for that Bill.
Must say this does look really good.

Glad to here the final fans will not be as powerful and more importantly loud.
I do wonder if the entire top being mesh will cause a dust issue, some form of black filter to stop dust from settling esp. when turned off would be nice.

That hard drive bay being fully gromited to the chassis then rubber strips for the hard drives (like in the hiper osiris) very nice for vibration isolation.
However I cannot help but think it's really a bad orientation for cooling, the 190mm fan will blow over the first drive but the 2nd will get no air as the first drive is blocking the air flow.

While I love the PSU placement and it's the only place they could stick it too keep the height of the case down, I can see that cable management could be a major issue.
Again however that psu position not only allows for the small height but also the large width, which in turn allows for the larger fans and fully removable motherboard tray, which is something that has been missing for a while.

If it comes out in the UK for £85 ($120 at current rates) that'll be a great price of an aluminum case with that sort of cooling.
Although I cannot help but wonder how much cheaper it would of been in steel only?

PS I'm pretty sure by the large 3.5" hole in the front of that adaptor that it's designed for a floppy drive or similar 3.5" drive not a hard drive (although you could put a hard drive in it but then you'd have a hole in the front of your case)

PPS thoes 190mm fan, are they 3 pin or molex?

[Bill Owen]

Yes, bottom HD cage will block the air circulation, but it is removable tho, and you have the option of placing 3x HDs above it with included adapter

I thought about the dust factor as well.

The hole fits 80mm exhaust fan in the 3.5" adapter

The NZXT 190mm top cooling is big, but this 250mm cooling fan from performance-pcs is even bigger, and it actually fits! I'll just have to tap new screw holes







It's the Green led version, and it's very quiet, 19 dbA pushing out 105.2 CFM!

[Leepox]

this case is very smexy. Will probly get that NEXT year when its time for me to upgrade components

[Bill Owen]

Smexy? thats a new term for me..hehe

Regarding the top perforated panel, I mentioned the retail version would be different in the video review I posted. The screen will be stamped in retail version with recessed vertical grooves, so it's reinforced and doesn't warp. It will remain perforated

[Pob255]

Bill is that 190mm fan 3pin & 4 pin molex, or is the 3pin connector just for speed monitoring?

EDIT: so need a radiator to go with that 190mm fan

[Bill Owen]

I will have to look, I swapped out their fans to 250mm ones instead

Heres my progress on the "Wolfenstein PC" with the panzerbox sample NZXT sent me

[Tetley]

Looking pretty slick Bill, saw the PSU on youtube which looked equally good.

[McPhee]

That case looks awesome! If I hadn't just bought a new one...

[Pob255]

Well it's finally out in the UK £95
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductID=1051962

I still like the looks and layout of this case, but for £95 it's not going to make me swap cases any time soon.

[oliverw92]

Saw your worklog on OCN Bill. Great stuff! Nice mod with the larger fan.

I've always liked the case from the time they announced it. Got a very solid look to it.